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Research Interests
Fish Immunology/Pathology
Research Summary
Research interests focus primarily on evaluating the fish immune system and developing new and improved aquaculture vaccines. I have been involved with the analysis of disease progression and development of control strategies for viral (IHN), bacterial (Coldwater disease), and parasitic (whirling disease) diseases in salmonids. In addition, we are developing conservation aquaculture methods for application to recovery efforts for fish species of concern. I have also investigated the role of mucosal immunity in fish and have found that significant antibody production can be stimulated in the mucosal component of the skin. Analysis at the molecular level suggests that localized site specific antibody production occurs and that fish have a much more primitive mucosal immune system than mammals. These findings have evolutionary significance in relation to lower vertebrate development. Information obtained from these studies form a link to studies investigating the role of passive transfer of antibody in fish from mother to egg. This may be important in the development of broodstock vaccines to be used as a strategy to enhance immunity in newly hatched fry. One disease that is being investigated and is our primary focus is coldwater disease (CWD) caused by the bacterium, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, which severely affects salmonid fry and juveniles. We have characterized the immune response of fish to this pathogen and have incorporated a proteomic approach to identify target antigens for vaccine development. We have also patented an attenuated vaccine for this pathogen.
Research Publications
Swan, C. M., Lindstrom, N. M., Cain, K. D. 2008. Identification of a localized mucosal immune response in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss following immunization with a protein-hapten antigen. Journal of Fish Diseases 31, 383-393
Jensen, N. R., Williams, S. R., Ireland, S. C., Siple, J. T., Cain, K.D. 2008. Evaluation of egg Incubation methods and larval feeding regimes for North American burbot. North American Journal of Aquaculture 70, 162-170
Jensen, N. R., Zuccarelli , M. D., Patton, S. J., Williams, S. R., Ireland, S. C., Cain, K. D. 2008. Cryopreservation and methanol effects on sperm motility and egg fertilization rates for North American burbot semen. North American Journal of Aquaculture 70, 38-42
Cain, K.D., and LaFrentz, B.R. 2007. Laboratory Maintenance of Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Flavobacterium columnare. Current Protocols in Microbiology 6:13B.1.1-13B.1.12
LaFrentz, B. R., Lindstrom, N. M., LaPatra, S. E., Call, D. R., and Cain, K. D. 2007. Electrophoretic and Western blot analyses of the lipopolysaccharide and glycocalyx of Flavobacterium psychrophilum. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 23, 770-780